Entry forms for the exhibit will be available on July 1, 2011 at the Santa Fe Arts Commission site, under Art Exhibit & Prize. The deadline for receipt of entry forms is Monday, August 15. Participation is open to professional and amateur artists, ages 18 years or older, who reside in Santa Fe County.

All entries will be judged by a committee of Arts Commissioners, artists and arts professionals. The top three entries will receive cash prizes, with the Best of Show receiving a $1,000 cash prize and 1st place and 2nd place receiving $500 and $250 respectively. The Best of Show will also be reproduced on a note card and the artist given the opportunity to show his/her original entry in City Hall for a year. Framed two-dimensional works and three-dimensional sculptures are eligible for entry.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

To assist our neighbors from the north and west, the Santa Fe Public Library is extending a wide range of services to evacuees from the wildfire areas. Evacuees can obtain a Santa Fe Public Library card with proper ID at any branch. Children from neighboring communities are encouraged to sign up and participate in our Summer Reading Program. Special accommodations can be made for meeting rooms, space permitting. And any patron, resident, visitor, or evacuee, is allowed to use our public computers and wireless network free of charge.

Also, individuals can drop their donations off at the food bank, 1222 Siler Road in Santa Fe. The Food Depot will supply nonprofit organizations that provide direct service to those affected by the fires. To cover the costs of disaster response efforts, the food bank also encourages financial contributions. Donations can be mailed toThe Food Depot, 1222 Siler Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507.

Let yourselves be heard by filling out the City of Santa Fe'sFair Housing survey. The responses will help the City know the Fair Housing issues and concerns of the community. The City of Santa Fe receives grant funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to fund housing and community development programs. As such, the city is required to periodically examine its performance in “affirmatively furthering fair housing choices.”

Please take time to fill out the appropriate survey. There are two: one for residents and one for real estate, housing, lending and social services professionals. Your response is strictly confidential and only the information from all the surveys will be summarized in a report. The final report will be approved by City Council and then posted on the City’s website.

Respond by July 10 and be entered into a drawing for a $100 Visa Gift Card!

Road and Fire Area Closure: New Mexico Route 475, also known as Hyde Park Road, and Artist Road are closed at mile post 9, at the Forest boundary. Forest Service Road 102 to Pacheco Road is also closed.

A Fire Area Closure has been enacted. Review it at: www.fs.fed.us/r3/sfe/conditions/index.htmlOpen and active: Communities in and around the Santa Fe National Forest remain open and accessible including Tesuque, Nambe, Santa Fe, and Pecos (including the Highway 63 corridor).

Fire Restrictions: The entire Santa Fe National Forest, encompassing 1.6 million acres, is under Stage II fire restrictions due to severe drought conditions and extreme fire danger. The Santa Fe National Forest includes National Forest System lands near Jemez, Cuba, Coyote, Gallina, Santa Fe, Los Alamos, Espanola, Pecos, Las Vegas and Mora. Under Stage II fire restrictions, campfires, smoking, explosives, fireworks, welding and driving off road are not allowed. Chainsaw use is not allowed from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Internal and external combustion engines must have properly installed, maintained and effective spark arresters. For a copy of the Stage II fire restriction order, please visit: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/sfe/.

The Santa Fe National Forest will be implementing Stage III Fire Restrictions across the Forest beginning today, Friday, June 24th. Stage III Fire Restrictions will restrict access to/use of certain parts of the Forest, yet there will be recreational opportunities available. A detailed list of areas that will be off limits (restricted) and areas that will remain OPEN will be available sometime today. Open areas will remain under Stage II restrictions.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

From July 5th to August 18th, enjoy live music and entertainment on the Santa Fe Plaza. You can have a daytime lunchtime treat, or something fun in the evenings as the sun goes down. Be sure to check the schedule to plan for your favorite acts, or just stroll through the Plaza during the following days and times:

AFTERNOONS:Monday and Wednesday: Noon-1:30

EVENINGS:Monday - Thursday: 6-8:30 pm

So put on your dancing shoes and check out the best thing about summer in Santa Fe!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Santa Fe City and County residents can take their green waste to the Buckman Road Recycling and Transfer Station (BuRRT), 2600 Buckman Road for FREE between 8:00 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. on Saturday, June 25. Residents are advised to clean green waste around their homes that could present a fire hazard and dispose of it for FREE on June 25. Green waste includes dried leaves, grasses, weeds, tree limbs and brush. Items such as household trash or appliances will NOT be free. This event is sponsored by the City and County of Santa Fe and Santa Fe Solid Waste Management Agency.

Here are some tips to protect your home and neighborhood:

Protect your property from wildfire and clean your yard to create a 30 foot defensible space to ensure ground fuels are well groomed so fire does not easily spread.

Trim and limb trees and bushes if possible so the low ground fire cannot climb and spread by crowning in the tree tops.

Keep yard waste picked up and dispose of waste properly.

Ensure that propane tanks and grills are not within 30 feet of your home.

Use non-flammable landscaping materials such as rock, pavers, annuals and high-moisture-content perennials within five feet of your home.

If you live in a moderate to high hazard wildland area, consider fire-resistant patio furniture, swing sets and accessories.

Fire restrictions are in place in the City and the County. The use of all outdoor ignition sources including smoking, charcoal grills, campfires, weed and crop burning are strictly prohibited. Please be diligent when using power tools outdoors and remember to use a spark arrester. Do not park a hot motor vehicle in areas covered with dry vegetation, weeds and grasses.

For more information:City residents contact City of Santa Fe Fire Prevention at (505) 955-3310

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Each year, Santa Fe Public Library staffers have to crunch numbers and analyze services to answer a plethora of surveys. Some of these surveys are for the State of New Mexico, some for non-profits like the American Library Association, and others are for various federal agencies. Since these annual surveys can sometimes feel like a Sisyphean task, it's always nice to see some results come out of them.

The following facts were sent out as talking points for this year's Library Legislative Day. While 2011's day has passed, it's good to keep in mind year-round how helpful public libraries are for a variety of tasks for everyone in the community. Locally, the Santa Fe Public Library answered YES to all the following questions this year:

85.0% of New Mexico's public libraries help people access and use employment resources, including helping with job searches, creating resumes and submitting employment applications.

95.9% of New Mexico's public libraries offer IT and other technical training, helping people gain essential technology skills for the 21st Century workforce.

91.8% of New Mexico's public libraries act as the bridge between government and its services, offering free access and assistance to help people complete online government forms.

54.3% of New Mexico's public libraries are often the only free source of Internet access in their communities, providing a vital link to technology and information.

Monday, June 20, 2011

During Mobile Office Hours, Congressman Ben Ray Luján’s staff is available to residents who need assistance with casework, but may not have the means or time to travel to one of Luján’s six district offices. Staff will be on hand to assist residents who have questions regarding Social Security benefits, immigration applications, veterans’ services, and other federal programs.

Friday, June 17, 2011

The USDA recently replaced the ubiquitous yet confusing food pyramid with a plate graphic. The new picture should make it easier for all of us to figure out if we're balancing our meals nutritiously. However, to paraphrase a comment, it will definitely depend on how big the plates at your house are.

One of Discover Magazine's blogs, 80beats, compiled older nutritional charts from the US and compared them to similar charts from other countries, such as the Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top. It's interesting that the basics of nutrition have remained fairly constant across decades and borders, but there are so many ways to present that information.

If the USDA's new picture still has you wondering if your meals are good for you and your family, be sure to check out our books on nutrition and healthy eating.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

"Mining the Unconscious: The Creative Path to Self Knowledge" is a multi-media community event based on Carl G. Jung's The Red Book. Several of these events will be held in the Main Library, 145 Washington Ave. at Marcy St.

All of these events are free and open to the public. For a full description and schedule of events, please go to Miningtheunconscious.org.

How Does the Outer World Fuel the Inner? (Poetry Reading)With Joan Logghe, Santa Fe Poet Laureate andJane Lipman, NM Book Award finalist in poetryWednesday, June 225:30 PM - 7:30 PMReading of poems created in Mining the Unconscious’ Poetry Workshop on June 18th. The participants who created poems will be invited to read.NOTE: Seating limited to 75 people. First come, first served.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Thursday, June 165:00 to 7:00 p.m.Warehouse 211614 Paseo de PeraltaRailyard District

You're invited to a free panel discussion about imagination and education sponsored by the City of Santa Fe Arts Commission. The first half hour will be a reception with refreshments, then an hour and a half of discussion. The panelists include people working in the arts, science, business, and education. They will discuss the various roles of imagination in their work, how innovative ideas emerge, and their strategies for encouraging their own creativity. They will consider ways in which students’ imagination can be encouraged and developed in our schools. The Santa Fe area includes a rich diversity of traditions and approaches to the admittedly broad topic of “imagination,” and we look forward to a lively exchange of ideas.

This Conversation is part of the Lincoln Center Institute’sImagination Conversations. The two-year project, featuring conversations throughout the United States, will culminate in America’s Imagination Summit to be held at Lincoln Center in New York City, July 21-22, 2011.The outcomes of the Santa Fe Conversation will be disseminated to Santa Fe educators in the form of a DVD and a written summary, in order to encourage much needed “imagination education” for students who will face the challenges of the 21st century. Distribution will be timed to provide inspiration to educators as they plan the 2011-12 school year.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

A popular saying among librarians is "information wants to be free". Whether we mean it as free as in unfettered, or free as in no-cost, can depend on the situation. But either way, no-cost, easily-accessible, not-charging-a-dime, click-of-a-mouse information is a wonderful thing.

Monday, June 13, 2011

The New Mexico State Library is offering free computer classes to Santa Fe residents from June through August. Part of the Fast Forward New Mexico Project, all classes are hands-on and consist of two 3-hour sessions. Half the courses are geared towards beginner computer users, and the other courses are designed to help small businesses utilize technology.

Anyone can attend these free classes. This is an award winning program funded federally cited for excellence in content and teaching. The classes will be held at the New Mexico State Library, 1209 Camino Carlos Rey, not the Santa Fe Public Library.

As long as we're on the subject:If you're helping a friend or family member get online for the first time but they seem to be stuck on how to use a mouse, the Palm Beach County Library System offers an excellent Mouse Tutorial and Mousercise exercises. It might save you a lot of time to sit them down to this page, instead of having to say, "Click, click, click, click...."

You and your family will be reaping the benefits of cyberspace in no time!

“Mining the Unconscious” is the first of three exhibits and numerous community programs that will take place as part of Mining the Unconscious: A Creative Path to Self Knowledge during Summer 2011. The project was conceived by four local artists who were inspired by the The Red Book: Belinda Edwards, Michele Altenberg, Harriette Tsosie and Laura Langdon. Check out the June Calendar for the first batch of upcoming community events, including those at the Main Library. For more information about the program, visit the Mining the Unconscious website.

Wednesday, June 08, 2011

Due to mechanical difficulties, the Van of Enchantment from the New Mexico History Museum is cancelled for Thursday, June 9, at Main Library. It has been rescheduled for Tuesday, August 2, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Tuesday, June 07, 2011

Law Access New Mexico provides landlord and tenant dispute services to all New Mexicans. These services include:

Landlord and tenants rights and remedies

Evictions

Security deposit disputes

What to do if your utilities are shut off

Public housing rights and responsibilities

How to request repairs from your landlord

Mobile home issues

Advice for “pro se” cases

Referrals to other legal services

Help regardless of citizen status (se habla Español)

Prerecorded answers to FAQs – 24 hours

These services are provided by law professionals free of charge to residents of New Mexico who earn less than 200% of Federal poverty guidelines and for a small fee for those who earn above these guidelines. Law Access New Mexico is paid in part through fees collected from civil court cases and their service is available to persons statewide. Law Access New Mexico can be reached at (800) 340-9771 or at lawaccess.org.

Monday, June 06, 2011

If you're a first-time driver, or have just moved from another state and need a New Mexico driver's license, one thing you'll need access to is the New Mexico Driver's License Manual [PDF]. Since more government forms and publications are saving paper and going digital, it may be difficult to actually get your hands on a copy. While we have a paper copy at the Main Library Reference Desk, at 40+ pages it would take a lot of in-library study time to absorb all of it. You can make photocopies of it at ten cents per page, which might be your best bet if you only need a few sections here and there, but photocopying can be time consuming if you need the whole thing.

If you need the entire manual in hard copy, your best bet may be to sign up for one of our free public PCs and just print it up. The New Mexico Motor Vehicle Department has links to PDF versions of it in both English and Español. Our printers only accept cash and coin, but with five singles you should be able to get it done in no time. If you have internet access and a computer, you can study the whole thing just by going to any of the above links.

Just remember: don't use your laptop or smartphone while driving, and best of luck on your driving test!

Friday, June 03, 2011

The traveling museum known as the Van of Enchantment will be visiting the Santa Fe Public Library over the next few weeks. The current exhibit is Riding the Rails, exploring both the Santa Fe Trail and the railroads and their effect on New Mexico's development. Exploring the Van of Enchantment is free, open to all ages, and you don't need to register.

The Van will be in the parking lots of the respective libraries between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. The Van will be closed for the lunch hour midday at each location.

Thursday, June 02, 2011

It's no surprise that New Mexico is experiencing a drought. Now that the weather is encouraging hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities, it might be more confusing about how the drought might affect you. The Public Lands Information Center is a fantastic resource for you to check weather, road conditions, and recreational information for Western states. They also have a special section for Fire News for New Mexico and Arizona, with up-to-date information on fire restrictions and closings for federal and state public lands and how they will affect you. The Center also has a mobile site for when you're already on the road to the backcountry.

So in addition to an extra pair of socks and some ready-to-eat treats, be sure to check out this site before you head for some outdoors fun.

Wednesday, June 01, 2011

It's June First, which means that if you're a kid up to 12 years old, you can sign up for the Summer Reading Program at any branch! This year's theme is One World, Many Stories, and the free events and crafts will have you traveling and reading around the world all summer long.

When you register at any branch, you can win prizes just for reading books. Also, there will be a drawing for bicycles at each branch at the End of Summer Parties.

So travel down to your local library, and start your summer of fun and exploration today!

About ICARUS

What's that you say? Icarus didn't make it? But that's because he flew too close to the sun. What if he'd used better judgment, or at least asked a better reference question, like 'How high can you safely fly if your feathers are glued on with wax?'